Internal-combustion engine



March 12, 1929. w, P, RUDK|N 1,704,951

INTERNAL coMBUsTloN ENGINE Filed April 9, 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet l March l2, 1939. w. P. RUDKIN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. l2, 1929. I

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application led April' 9,

vThe presentinvention appertains to improvements in internal combustion engines, and has as its primary object to provide a novel construction by means of which steam is utilized in combination with the hydrocarbon fuel as the motive power, whereby economy in operation is effected through a reduction in the consumption of the fuel.

I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to introduce into an internal combustion'engine a limited supply ofwater vapor from the water system, such vapor reachlng the 'explosion chamber in a finely divided state, and working,if at all, as a moisture constituent, but the present invention is to bev distinguished from any method of such character. That is to say, in this invention I employ the heat of combustion to develop from a suitable water supply a quantity of steam ,20 which is passed into the explosion chamber in its gaseous state and subsequently compressed by the motor piston, such compression of the gas (steam) roducing a superheating thereof. The fuel mixture which is likewise introduced into the engine is fired in the presence of the superheated steam, with the resultant effect of increasing the superheating action and thus adding the expansive force ofl the steam to the explosive force of the fuel when ignited.

It is further. an object-ive to provide'means for automatically controlling the steam supplyand corelating the quantity produced' with the requirements with respect to the operation `of the motor, such that while the steam lserves to prevent overheating thereof, as the engine becomes hotter and hotter, a relatively greater amount and pressure of steam is developed in the proportion needed to properly balance the supply with the consumption, whereby the motor will at all times be at the proper operating temperature. y j Notable among the results obtained by my novel .method and apparatus Amay :be mentioned the elimination of the radiator, now a necessary accessory/,in water-cooled construcj tions, and this without aradical change from the present construction of the internal combustion engine; also'the ability to-utilize a' greater heat in the explosion chamber by permitting a much higherJ compression without premature ignition of the fuel charge and will result in' a' greater superheating o`f the steam,+in turn economizing fuel and effect- 1926. Serial No. 100,921.

iing more perfect vaporization of the fuel mixure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined' by the appended claims. y

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an engine construction embodying my improvements;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a slightly modified form of the invention; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail partly in section, showing more clearly the associated fuel and steam supply controls.

lLike reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, 1

designates the cylinder block of a Couven-- tional type of lntcrnal combustion motor which is water jacketed as indicated at 2. The detachable engine head 3 which is formed with a water compartment or jacket communicates with the jacket 2 and receives its walter supply from the reservoir 4 located at A one side of the cylinder block. This reservoir is formed-with aneck connection 5 establishing communication with the water jacket 7 leading from a main water tank' or other Suitable source of supply (not shown). A, steam pipe 8 leads from the top of the cylinder head into the upper portion of the reservoir 4 which constitutes a steam dome, from which the steam generated passes by way of the pipe 9 to the fuel intake manifoldl 10 at a point adjacent the carbureter 11. The pipe 9 is provided with a regulator valve 12 and I also dispose at the top of the steam'dome a safetybr pop valve 4a to take care of excess.

pressure whenever such is developed. In or-A der to insure an adequate steam supply I prefer to provide an additional water jacket 13 as a part of the construction of the exhaust manifold 14, water being supplied to such chamber joy means of the pipe 15 leading from the base Yof the reservoir' 4. Steam which is developed in this chamber 13 is conducted to the pipe 8 by the pipe 16.`

In Figure 3 it will be observed that th steam pipe 9 terminates in anozzle 9 located within the intake passage .'10 and this arrangement is designed to jet the steam into the fuel stream in a regulatable amount under the control of t-he throttle 17 which oper' top of the reservoir 4 so as to maintain in the ff latter a pressure correspondingr to the pressure in the steam dome, for reasons obvious to those skilled in the art tov which this invention relates.

The water supply is led from the reservoir 4 to a float chamber 19 by the Apipe 20 and from this chamber a nozzle 21 extending within the steam nozzle 9 enters the intake` manifold 10. In this mannera certain amount of moisture under the control of the valve 22 is introduced with the steam which latter acts to atomize the water and intermix it with the atomized fuel. The amount of moisture is relatively small so as to eliminate any likelihood of interfering with the operation ofthe igniter.

An important feature of this construction resides in the provision of a pressure regulating valve 23 in the pipe line 9, this being capable of/adjustment according to the variations in the grades of fuel which may be employed in the operation of this engine construction. Bythe regulation or setting of this valve the pressure in the steam dome or chamber 3 may be controlled, the greater the pressure the higher the boiling point for the Water contained therein. Obviously, therefore, the heat of the engine is subject to control by the adjustmentof this valve and this is particularly important in the regulation of the heat of the engine for using oils of different grades.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1.' In an internal combustion engine of the class described, a cylinder, a water jacket therefor, a water supply communicating therewith, a steam chamber, means for introducing steam therefrom into the cylinder,

and moisture supplying means associated with the last named means operative to introduce into the cylinder a regulatable amount of moisture under the control of the steam.

2. The method of operating an internal `combustion engine which comprises utilizing 'the heat of explosion to generate a supply of steam, conveying said steam to the firing Vchamber of the engine, introducing moisture into the firing chamber under the control of the steam and introducing a supply of fuel into the firing chamber in the presence of the steam and moisture, and firing the charge in the presence of said steam and moisture.

3. In an internal combustion engine of the class described, a cylinder, a water jacket therefor, means for feeding and regulating 'a lfuel charge to the cylinder, a steam chamber, means for introducing steam therefrom into the cylinder and controlling the supply thereof, and moisture supply means associated with the last mentioned means operative to introduce into the cylinder a regulatable amount of moisture under the control of the steam.

4. The methodof operating an internal combustion engine which comprises utilizing the heat of explosion to generate a supply of steam, conveying said steam to the tiring chamber of the engine, introducing moisture into the iiring chamber under control of the steam and introducing a supply of fuel into the firing chamber in the presence of the steam and moisture, compressing the fuel charge, steam and moisturewithin the cylinder, and iiringthe charge in the presence of the compressed steam and moisture. t

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM PAUL RUDKIN. 

